Tubular grate.



No. 720,867. PATENTED FEB. ,17, 1903.

F. 0-. WILLIAMS. TUBULAR GRATE. Amman-manna: N0V.28,U1902. no MODEL. Y Y5 sums-mum: 1.

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PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.

F. G. WILLIAMS. TUBULAR GRATE. APPLIOATION FILED K0126, 1902.

no MODEL.

'PATENTED FEB. 17,1903.

I. G. WILLIAMS,"

B R GRATE- APP no LED NOV. 26," 13:02.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1902. v N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4;

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Uwrrnn STATES FREDERICK C. WVILLIAMS PATENT @rrrcn.

, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TUBULAR GRATE.

5PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 720,867, dated February17, 1903.

Application filed November 26, 1902. berial No. 132,859. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK 0. W11.- LIAMS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in. the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Tubular Grates,of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to an improvement in the class of tubulargrates inwhich the tubular grate-bars through which water is circulated from andto the boiler form an upper firechamber and alower fire-chamber, intowhich latter the live coals drop from the upper chamber through thespaces between the grate-bars that separate the two chambers and lodgeon the lowermost grate-bars between which the ashes fall into theash-pit.

The primary object of my invention is to generally improve theconstruction of grates in the class referred to; and it is my furtherand especially important object to adapt the fuel-bed-supportinggrate-bars to be shaken to eifect more free passage between them of thematerial from the fuel imposed upon them.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View inlongitudinal sectional elevation of a furnace provided with my improvedtubular grate connected with a boiler. Fig. 2 is a view of the same inside elevation, presenting the outer surface of a side wall of thefurnace which is shown in inside elevation in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection taken at the line 3 on either Fig. 1 or Fig. 4 and viewed asindicated by the arrows; Fig. 4E, a section taken at the line 4 on Fig.3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 5, a section at theinner end of the fire-chamber of the furnace, taken either at the line 5on Fig. l or at the line 5 5 on Fig. 6 and viewed as indicated by thearrows; Fig. 6, a section taken at the line 6 on Fig. 5 and viewed inthe direction of the arrow; Fig. 7, a broken view of two headers ormanifolds,'one above the other, carrying tubular grate-bars shown in therelative positions they occupy at one end of their throw in shakingthem; Fig. 8, a broken enlarged view showing the two inner headers ofthe middle section of the tubular grate-bars with their elbowpipe,flexible connection, and other details adapting them to be shaken; Fig.9, a section taken at the line 9 on Fig. 8, viewed as indicated by thearrow and en.-

larged; and Fig. 10, a broken view, in sectional elevation, of theshaking'attachment on the outer ends of said headers, showing details ofconstruction.

Ais a furnace having a fuel-combustion compartment B in its forward endprovided with the required number of hinged doors a, covering openings ain the front wall and separated by a hanging bridge-wall C-from the rearcompartment B, containing a boiler D and provided with an outlet 1) forproducts of combustion.

'E is my improved tubular grate disposed in the compartment B to formthe upper combustion-chamber F and the lower combustion-chamber F abovethe ash-pit F in a downdraft-furnace, through which ash-pit the boileris connected from its base by a pipe 0 with the system of grate-tubes atthe lower end thereof, they being connected from the upper end by a pipe0, as shown, or in any other suitable manner with the boiler above thewater-line therein. Thus circulation is established from the base of theboiler through the tubular grate back to the boiler. Fuel introducedthrough the upper door or doors a into the chamber F burns on thegrate-section forming the base of that chamber, and the live coals onthe bottom of the fuel-bed d in the chamber F drop between the bars uponthe bed d in the chamber F, from which the ashes escape between thelower grate-bars into the pit F While the furnace is in operation theupper doors a are open and the draft is downward from themthrough thefuelbeds cl and d and ash-pit, carrying the products of combustion tothe rear of the furnacecompartment B forpassage through the large flue cof the boiler from its'inner end, being stopped from rising above suchinner end by a diaphragm f in their path. From the forward end of theflue e the products of combustion pass through the boiler-flu es 6' andescape at the outlet 1). products of combustion through the boilertubesapplies to the particular type of boiler illustrated; but it may varyaccording to the type of boiler used, which has nothing to do 1 with myinvention.

My improved grate comprises in detail the following-describedconstruction: In the inner or rear wall of the compartment B are Thedescribed course of the IOC- provided, one above the other, thelongitudinal bores or openings g, h, and t', and corresponding openingsg, Zr, and 'i are provided in the front wall of the furnace, theWall-section below each of the openings h and h having by preferenceI-beams 7t embedded in them to extend flush with the bases of theopenings, which are lined with metal bearing-plates 7c, and thewall-section below each opening 7; and t" having similar beams 7cembedded in them to project slightly above the bases of the openings andafford bearings. In the opening g is immovablysupported a manifold orheader Z and a similar header Z is supported in the same way in theopening g". These headers are connected across the top of thecompartment B by a series of tubular grate-bars m. Headers Z and Z aresupported in the opening h one upon the other with interposed steelrollers r, and the lowermost of the two headers rests upon similarrollers 7', which bear on the plates and headers Z and Z are similarlysupported one upon the other through the medium of rollers r in theopening it. The headers l and Z, which are movable, are connected acrossthe center of the compartment by a horizontal series of tubulargrate-bars 11, forming the base of the chamber F, and immediately belowthem the headers Z and Z also movable, are similarly connected by ahorizontal series of tubular grate-bars n, which are normally instaggered relation to the bars n. Headers Z and Z are supported one uponthe other, with interposed rollers r in the opening 2'', and headers Zand Z are simi larlysupportedinthe openingt'. Theheaders Z and Z whichare movable, are connected across the base of the compartment by ahorizontal series of tubular grate-bars o, forming the base of thechamber F, and the headers Zand Z, which are stationary, are similarlyconnected by a horizontal series of tubular grate-bars 0, normally instaggered relation to the bars 0 above them.

The pipe 0 leads from the base of the boiler into the header Z. Beyondone end of the rear wall of the compartment B the headers Z and Z areflexibly connected, in the manner hereinafter described, at theirprojecting ends to intercommunicate by an elbow-pipe p. In a similarmanner the headers Z and Z are connected at their ends which projectbeyond the front wall of the compartment B by an elbowpipe p, theheaders Z and Z are connected at their ends projecting beyond said rearwall by an elbow-pipe p and the headers Z and Z are connected at theirends projecting beyond the front wall by an elbow-pipe 19 The pipe 0(shown in Fig. 1 as connecting the header Z with the boiler) isrepresented as leading downward from the header. In practice it leadseither straight or upward; but it had to be shown as represented in thedrawings because of the limitations of the latter and the desire torepresent the parts of the structure upon a comparatively large scale.

As shown, the grate-bars are reamed at their opposite extremities tosecure them against withdrawal in their respective headers, which aretapped at flanges g on their outer sides coincident with each grate-bar,the openings being closed by screw-plugs g. This particular constructionfacilitates the removal and insertion of any grate-bar in case of need.Such removal may readily be performed,since the taps on the leaders areaccessible, those at the rear of the furnace through a manhole G onremoving the slabs j, that cover the openings g, h, and 41, asrepresented in Fig. 1, and by cutting off the reamed ends of any tubularbar it may be drawn out at the front of the furnace, the particularcovering-plate being removed for the purpose. In the same way a new tubemay be adjusted in place, and when inserted its ends are reamed tosecure it.

The several elbow-pipes, which afford communication between the headers,are connected in the manner represented in Fig. 9. Each elbow-pipe isprovided with flanges s at its opposite ends, which enter and fit insockets s, projecting from the headers to be connected by it, and glandss are fitted against the flanges s with interposed packing s and arefastened by bolts. Thus the flexible connection is formed between theheaders, which permits the members of connected pairs to be slidinglyreciprocated longitudinally with relation to each other, as and for thepurpose hereinafter described. Only the headers Z and Z Z and Z and Zand Z require to be moved. To this end they are each provided with aheaded solid extension 1., projecting from one end. The expanded ends ofthe extensions on the headers Z 1 are perforated and enter,respectively, the bifurcated opposite ends of a rocking head 25',wherein they are pivotally fastened by bolts passing through suchexpanded ends and through elongated openings Z in the bifurcated ends ofthe head. The headers Z and Z are flexibly connected together in asimilar manner by a head i, and a rock-shaft u, carrying anoperating-handle u, Fig. 2, and supported in bearings 21, on the sidewall of the furnace, through which the headers project, connects the twoheads t at their centers. The expanded extension end of each header Zand Z enters the single bifurcated end of a rocking head 15, also havingelongated openings like the openings t in the heads 25' to receive thebolts which connect the heads pivotally with such expanded header ends,and the heads 25 are connected together by a rock-shaft u" supported inthe bearings a (shown in Fig. 2) and carrying an operating-handle to.

As will be understood from the foregoing description of the mechanism,the course of water circulation through the tubular grate is from theboiler through the pipe 0, header Z, tubes 0, header Z, elbow-pipe p,header Z tubes 0, header Z elbow-pipe p, header Z tubes at, header Zelbow-pipe p, header Z, tubes 12, header Z elbow-pipe p header Z tubesm, header Z and pipe 0 back to the boiler.

By working the handle it back and forth the headers Z Z are reciprocatedlongitudinally in relatively contrary directions owing to theirconnection 15, and the headers Z Z are simultaneously reciprocated inthe same dle section of the tubular grate is shaken to feed live coalsfrom the bed (1 to the bed (1. The headers Z and 2- maybe reciprocatedrelative to the stationary headers l and I, respectively below them, towiden and narrow the spaces between the adjacent members of.

tube pairs 0 0 for shaking the lower gratesection to facilitate theevacuation of ashes from the chamber F. If desired, the shakingoperation may be continuous, and to that end the handles a and a may becoupled with a suitable engine (not shown) for actuating them.

The movements of the lower headers Z and Z are, as will be observed, inhorizontal lines without deviation therefrom, while the rocklug-headconnections 25 and t" cause the upper headers Z and Z and the upperheaders Z and Z respectively, to tilt toward their ends opposite thoseconnected by the heads. It is to decrease the extent of this tilt "froma horizontal line that the elbow connection between headers ispreferably made, as represented in Fig. 8. It will be noticed that theconnected ends of the headers Z and l in that figure are expanded,respectively, in a downward and in an upward direction, so as toseparate the centers "v and v of the points of connection with theelbow-pipe that much farther apart. Thus the are x of the circle havingits center at at, through which the center '0 travels, is increased inradius, thereby decreasing the extent of tilt from a horizontal line ofthe end of the upper header, which extent is from the inclined line 410to the inclined line :0 The rollers 0* between the upper and lowerheaders are confined by lugs w between convex bosses to on theheader-surfaces to insure bearing of the upper header on its supporting-rollers throughout its entire reciprocating movement involving thetilting at one end referred to, and to prevent binding at the ends ofcompanion headers where they are connected by the rocking heads t and tthe bolt-holes i in their bifurcated ends are elongated, as shown anddescribed.

I have herein for the sake of clearness minutely described the detailsof the mechanism illustrated for the embodiment of my invention; but itis not limited to such details, for they may be variously modifiedwithout departure from my invention, which I consider to be broadly newwith respect to the general construction of the tubular grate and as toits shaking feature.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In afurnace, a tubular grate comprising, in combination, upper,intermediate and lower headers supported on each of the forward and rearwalls of the combustion-compartment, and series of tubes connectingopposite headers and dividing said compartment into an uppercombustion-chamber and a lower combustion-chamber having a tubular base,said headers being connected one to another to communicate throughoutthe grate.

2. In a furnace, a tubular grate comprising, in combination, an upperheader supported on each of the forward and rear walls of thecombustion-compartment, a series of tubes connecting said headers, apair of interme- (liate headers supported one above the other on each ofsaid walls and having corresponding members of each pair connected by aseries of tubes, and a pair of lower headers supported one above theother on each of said walls and having corresponding members of eachpair connected by a series of tubes, said headers being connected one toanother to communicate throughout the grate and said tubes forming insaid compartment an upper combustion-chamber and a lowercombustionchamber.

3. In a tubular furnace-grate, the combination of headers supported oneabove the other in pairs on opposite walls of the combustion-compartmentof a furnace, and a series of tubes connecting opposite members of eachpair of the headers, said members of each pair of headers beingrelatively movable for shaking the grate and said headers being flexiblyconnected to communicate from one to the other.

4. In a tubular furnace-grate, the combination of headers supported oneupon the other in pairs in openings in opposite walls of thecombustion-compartment of a furnace, the members of each pair beingrelatively movable longitudinally, a series of tubes con nectingopposite members of each pair of the headers, said headers beingflexibly connected to communicate from one tothe other, and means foractuating said movable members to shake the grate.

5. In a furnace, a tubular grate comprising, in combination, an upperheader supported in an opening in each of the front and rear walls ofthe combustion-compartment, a series of tubes connecting said headers, apair of intermediate headers supported one above the other in an openingin each of said walls, the members of each pair being longitudinallymovable and connected to reciprocate in relatively contrary directions,a series of tubes connecting opposite members of each pair of saidintermediate headers, a pair of lower headers supported one above theother in an opening in each of said walls, the up per member of eachpair being longitudinally reciprocable, a series of tubes connectingopposite members of each pair of said lower headers, said headers beingflexibly connected to communicate from one to the other throughout thegrate, and means for actuating said movable headers to shake the grate.

6. In afurnace, a tubular grate comprising, in combination, an upperheader supported in an opening in each of the front and rear walls ofthe combustion-compartment, a series of tubes connecting said headers, apair of intermediate headers supported one above the other on rollers inan opening in each of said walls, the members of each pair beinglongitudinally movable and connected at one end to reciprocate inrelatively contrary directions, a series of tubes connecting oppositemembers of each pair of said intermediate headers, a pair of lowerheaders supported one above the other in an openingin each of saidwalls, the upper member of each pair being supported on rollers andlongitudinally reciprocable, a series of tubes connecting oppositemembers of each pair of said lower headers, elbow-pipes flexiblyconnecting said headers from one to another, and means for actuatingsaid movable headers to shake the grate.

7. In a furnace, a tubular grate comprising, in combination, an upperheader supported in an opening in each of the front and rear walls ofthe combustion-compartment, a series of tubes connecting said headers,'apair of intermediate headers supported on rollers one upon the other,with rollers interposed between them, in an opening in each of saidwalls, the members of each pair being longitudinally movable, arocking-head connection between the members of each pair of saidintermediate headers at each end there of, a rock-shaft connecting theopposite rocking heads, and series of tubes connecting the oppositemembers of each pair, a pair of lower headers supported one upon theother, with interposed rollers, in an opening in each of said walls, theupper member of each pair being longitudinally reciprocable and providedat each end with a rocking head, a rockshaft connecting the rockingheads on the upper members of the lower headers, aseries

